After a highly controversial first outing last week, Channel 4’s new documentary Benefits Street appears to have won over some of its critics by ‘balancing out’ its focus in its latest episode.

A change.org petition saw over 30,000 signatures calling for the broadcaster to scrap the five-part documentary and it was inundated with complaints from viewers claiming it was detrimental to community relations, portrayed those on benefits in a negative light and highlighted illegal activity, such as shoplifting.

But while tonight’s second episode of Benefits Street, in which the Romanian immigrant residents of the street were introduced, was set to ‘stir up racial tension’, it seems to have shown its critics it is a balanced programme.

Many feared the Romanians would be portrayed in the same negative light but what actually happened was that a vast majority of viewers felt sorry for them and praised their work ethic in comparison to the British residents of the Birmingham street.

There were those that felt sorry for the Romanians and believed they were working their hardest:

Watching #benefitsstreet Looks like it's balancing out over the series. Much sympathy for Romanians tonight. Fair play to Channel 4